Personally, if you were 1st two years ago and 3rd last year... you are still a top team that would be better off competing.
If I'm you, I'm more looking at the nickles & dimes - how to create them.
You've got great value in Hart & Gustavsson & Marchand.
Konecny is back for upcoming season.
My advice might be to switch directions and look at taking some risks on "older" (I know) players that might have great value.
James van Riemsdyk is one I like. He didn't do nearly $7m of worth... but he's coming up on a UFA.
I think he's gonna get around $3m or $4m... but I think on the right team he could provide $5m in stats.
Jon Toews is another guy. I know people think he might retire... I don't.
I think he'll sign a fairly low contract to play in a lockerroom he likes. Maybe as C3 in Dallas... or Tampa Bay.
Like your league, a lot of NHL teams are pinched for cap.
So you could take some risks on NHL-UFAs that are "fringe" and maybe find some good deals.
Andreas Athanasiou and Jujhar Khaira are both UFAs for Chicago.
If they sign at NHL minimum - great deal for you.
If they don't sign in NHL or sign for much more - not a good deal.
Think about things like that.
Personally - I'd go about seeing if you could make an offer of Athanasiou for JVR.
AA is coming off a 40pt year where he got those points by opportunity of minutes in Chicago - they may not re-sign him...
And other clubs may not be interested.
It wouldn't completely surprise me if he doesn't get an NHL contract.
He's a minus player that is scoring-centric, but doesn't have complete NHL game.
Where AA is 28 years old and had 40pts, JVR is 34 years old and had 29pts (at $7m).
Most fantasy GMs probably want AA over JVR... but I'm betting JVR is the better scorer this coming year.
Your league - using NHL cap - IS very tight.
That's tough.
You have to make every dollar count.
And... these days the NHL IS giving the money to the youngsters.
The vets who have made a ton of NHL cash, I think, will still take minimal contracts to be in an NHL lockerroom.
I think it's a great time to look at older UFAs in cap leagues.
Switch your mind to that... look through all 32 NHL teams on capfriendly... find the older UFAs and say "What do I think this guy has left in the tank? What will he be offered?"
I think there's value there in you going for one or two more years of competing.
As you say - your league is "youth centric"... so if they are going that way... go the other way.
NHL GMs are keen these guys.
When they give a 35 year old a 3yr x $3m contract... they are hoping to get a $4m, then $3m, then $2m season out of them.
So you want to sign up for that $4m season on a $3m contract and go for it with your team.
Rebuild some other time. I think you've got one or two more years to go for it.
That's my 2 cents on your team.